Humane Society International/Australia, Choose Cruelty-Free, Humane Research Australia and Lush Cosmetics have launched the Australian arm of the largest-ever global campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics. The campaign, launched to coincide with World Week for Animals in Laboratories, is being rolled out simultaneously in 48 countries and more than 700 Lush stores in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe, India, the United States and Russia. HSI also operates a scientific outreach program in other countries, where the testing of cosmetics on animals is still required by law.

“Animal testing is the ugly secret of the beauty industry, and it’s time for it to stop. Thousands of animals such as rabbits and mice continue to endure chemical poisoning tests just to produce new lipsticks and shampoos, and that’s simply unacceptable in a modern society.”

Such testing is already banned in Europe and a further ban on the sale of cosmetics that have been newly tested on animals in other parts of the world is expected to come into effect in March 2013.

In Australia, whilst little or no cosmetics animal testing is currently licensed, there is no legal ban preventing animal testing in the future, and products tested on animals overseas are still sold in shops throughout the country.

HSI offices in Australia, Canada, India, and the United States are joining with Lush to end cosmetics cruelty with nationwide consumer campaigns in each region. HSI and its partners will work with politicians, regulators and scientists to press for change. Consumers are being urged to sign national petitions in Lush stores from 17 to 28 April, and online at fightinganimaltesting.com and hsi.org/becrueltyfree. Citizens will be able to support both an international ban, and at the same time send a strong message to the Australian government that animal testing for cosmetics needs to be banned by law.

“Animals should be protected by robust laws which force ALL companies to adopt humane methods to bring their products to market. In Lush stores across the country, we are petitioning the government to follow the EU’s lead to put in place an Australian ban on animal testing for cosmetics and ban the sale of new cosmetics that have been tested on animals.”

Liz Jackson, Choose Cruelty Free, said:

“Choose Cruelty Free is very excited to be part of this important global campaign, and we look forward to working with HSI, Humane Research Australia and Lush Cosmetics. People think animal testing is a thing of the past, but countless animals are still forced to endure horrific suffering for cosmetics testing. Choose Cruelty Free has been pressuring the Australian Government, for a number of years, to introduce legislation prohibiting the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. Hundreds of thousands of consumers have already sent messages to our government, making it clear they do not want blood on their hands. We are confident the new campaign will be supported by all caring Australians.”

Humane Society International and Lush believe that testing on animals to produce new cosmetic products or ingredients is unjustified. Animals are subjected to considerable pain and distress during toxicity tests. Animal toxicity tests are also scientifically unreliable for assuring human safety because animals and humans can respond very differently to the same chemicals.